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Home My WebLink About8-24 20 Bridge Street Staff Report 2 11-17-25TOWN OF MONTVILLE Land Use & Development Department 310 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Uncasville, CT 06382 Telephone: (860) 848-6779 Staff Report Prepared by Meredith Badalucca on 11/17/25 C.G.S § 8-24 Referral: For the sale of 20 Bridge Street (082-080-000). Staff received a request for a C.G.S. §8-24 review and report to the Town Council for the sale of 20 Bridge Street from Mayor Bunnell on September 26, 2025. The Mayor stated in his request “The town may be interested in putting up for sale, town owned property at 20 Bridge St. Please initiate the required 8-24 review at your earliest convenience. This is in conjunction with the property at 8, 14 and 22 Bridge St.”. Background: • Per the Field Card, the Town of Montville (Public Works Row) obtained ownership of this parcel on March 12, 1932. • August 8, 1996, Assistant Planner Thomas Sanders received a call regarding water draining into 14 Bridge Street from 20 Bridge Street. • August 8, 1996, Assistant Planner Sanders forwarded a letter (attached) to Mayor Dougherty regarding the above. • August 9, 1996 a letter (attached) from Assistant Planner Sanders to Allen Cohen explaining the matter was referred to the Mayor and Public Works Director. The Mayor referred the matter to the Town Attorney. • Memo dated 8/21/96 from Assistant Planner Sanders to the Public Works Subcommittee (attached) explaining the drainage issue. In this memo, Assistant Planner Sanders gave the history of the parcel. He indicated: “Town acquired property sometime in the 1930’s. Appears that the reason for acquisition was to access the Palmer House which was used for a school and library in the past. Neither structure exists today. Original access to the house was along a driveway between the mill buildings on Lots 79, 78 & 77. Lots 79 & 81 have rights to pass over Lot 80. Lot 81 is improved with a single family dwelling.” He further gave his opinion that this parcel (20 Bridge Street) may no longer be needed by the town. However, there were some legal questions that were being addressed by the Town Attorney regarding liability and how to correctly dispose of the property. He further inquired if the committee would want to dispose of the property that an 8-24 review would need to be brought to the Planning and Zoning Commission. • August 21, 1996 Public Works Subcommittee meeting minutes (attached) discussed the drainage issues. • February 22, 2022 and 8-24 Review was completed for the sale of 8, 14 & 22 Bridge Street. The PZC voted to send a favorable report to the Town Council. (Staff report attached) Staff Comments: This parcel consists of 0.23 acres and is located within the Light Industrial Zoning District. The frontage and width of the parcel is approximately 15 feet. The GIS shows an intermittent stream to the rear of the parcel. The state wetlands layer indicates the rear of the parcel to be alluvial and floodplain soils. A portion of the property is located within Flood Zone AE. Minimum requirements of Section 12 – Light Industrial (LI) District: Lot size: 40,000 square feet Frontage: 100 feet Front yard setback: 50 feet Side yard setback: 30 feet Rear yard setback: 50 feet to residential or 30 feet to commercial or industrial Given the size and layout of the parcel, it does not meet the zoning requirements of the Light Industrial (LI) District. Therefore, should the Commission decide to recommend a favorable report to the Town Council, staff would recommend that the parcel be conveyed with 8, 14 and 22 Bridge Street. As part of any site plan approval for future development, the parcels shall be combined. Staff further recommends that the Commission consider requesting an easement in favor of the Town of Montville for any future trail project. This parcel is located within the Job Investment Area on the Future Land Use Map in the POCD. This includes infrastructure investment, commercial, light industrial, industrial, mixed use and municipal uses. Agency Referrals: Public Works: Comments dated 11/12/25 “No comment from public works.” Town Engineer: Comments dated 11/12/25 “There is a stormwater infrastructure across this property. CLA would recommend that the Town retain drainage easements and easements for access to the infrastructure prior to sale. No other comments.” WPCA: Comments dated 11/10/25 “WPCA has no objection.” Assessor: Comments dated 11/13/25 “The Assessor’s Office has no comments at this time.” Fire Marshal: Comments dated 11/12/25 “The Fire Marshal’s office doesn’t object to the sale of the property. The Montville fire service and the Fire Marshal’s office would like to continue using the property to access the emergency water source at the rear of the property.” Building: Comments dated 11/12/25 “The Building Department has no adverse comments on the proposed sale of this Right of Way access.” Police Dept.: Comments dated 11/4/25 “The Montville Police Department has no comments at this time, regarding the sale of 20 Bridge Street.” Suggested Motions: FAVORABLE: I make a Motion to forward a Favorable Report in accordance with C.G.S. §8-24 to the Town Council for the sale of 20 Bridge Street for the following reasons: MUST STATE REASON(S) UNFAVORABLE: I make a Motion to forward an Unfavorable Report in accordance with C.G.S. §8-24 to the Town Council for the sale of 20 Bridge Street for the following reasons: MUST STATE REASON(S)